Definition

IPC-A-610 is the global standard for evaluating assembled PCBs. It provides visual acceptance criteria for solder joint quality, component placement, mechanical assembly, wire connections, and cleanliness across three product classes. When your assembler says they work to 'IPC-A-610 Class 2', they're committing to specific solder fillet heights, component alignment tolerances, and cleanliness levels. Class 3 adds requirements for high-reliability products. The standard covers everything from through-hole and SMT soldering to BGA inspection and conformal coating. Current version is IPC-A-610J (2024).